Solenoid web controller for printing presses



July 2 1927.

A.'J. CLINE ET AL SOLENOID WEB CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PRESS ES Filed Feb. 28. 1927 INVENTORS.

A TTORNQ.

Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,636,988 PATENT OFFICE. T

ALLAN J'. CLINE, O1 CHICAGO, AND JACOB A. HOLLANDIB, OF FOB EST PAR-K, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO CLINE ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SOLENOID WEB CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,497.

This invention relates to means for controlling the tension of web-paper running to press during the normal operation of the press and preventing the over-running of the web when the press is to be decelerated or brought to a stop. It is one specific embodiment of the broad invention disclosed and claimed in our Patent No. 1,618,975, dated March 1, 1927. In such patent we showed an electric torque motor actuating a system of stationary straps or aprons which gave a regulatable tension upon the surface of the rotating roll of web-paper being drawn to press during the normal operation of the same, with means for applying therethrough an increased tension for emergency stops.

In the present case it is our object to secure such results by providing a solenoid tension device, in combination with controlling means for regulating and determining the pull upon the tension straps or aprons. We have shown it in connection with a constant voltage source of electric supply.

The accompanying somewhat diagrammatic illustration of the preferred exemplification of our invention shows a roll of webpaper 1 from which the web 1 is to be fed to press. Pressing on the surface of the webroll 1 is a strap or straps 2 anchored at the plate 21 at one end, the other end passing over or around a roller 3 carrying a pinion 4. This pinion meshes with a rack 5 carried by the armature plunger 6 working in the power solenoid 7. This solenoid, when energized, pulls on the rack 5 and tends to turn the drum 3, thereby putting the straps or aprons under a stress dependent upon the strength of the solenoid. B our invention this strength may be control ed to (a) compensate for different lengths of rolls, (6) different standards of electric supply, (0) normal conditions of operation, (d) decelerating or decrease conditions, (6) emergency or stop conditions and (f) pastel"- making conditions.

It will be seen that one end of the solenoid i coil 7 is connected by wire 8 to the negative side of an electric circuit, while the other end is shown as connected by wire 9 to a fracti'onal-roll resistor 10. If the switch-arm 12 be placed on the right-hand tap-contact 11 all the resistance- 10 is in circuit, which will give a pull, say, suitable fora quarter-length roll of web-paper; or if the arm 12 be moved to the tap-contact next from the right it will give a pull suitable for a half-length roll; the third tap-contact is for a three-quarter length roll and the left-hand tap-contact is for a full length roll.

From the switch 12 the course of the current is by Way of wire 13 to another resistor 14, having taps 15 for an arm 16 which may be shifted to compensate for local Voltage conditions; we call it a voltage-compensating switch.

From switch 16 a wire 17 leads to a resistor 18 and thence by wire 19 to the positive side of the supply circuit. Switches 20 in the main Wires 8 and 19 serve to open the Working circuit completely, when desired.

The resistor 18 has a plurality of taps running to switch contacts 22 with which cooperates an arm 23 which has a normal spring bias to the right, as indicated by the arrow A. This arm 23 is manually movable and is under the control of the press-man, who thus may regulate, from time to time, the running tension on his web-sheet. Any movement of the arm 23 to the left, progressively cuts out more of the resistance 18, thus increasing the effective pull of the solenoid 7 for normal runnin conditions. Means are provided for restraining the arm 23 in any desired position, comp-rising a detent-arm 26 working on a toothed sector carried by the arm 23; an ,electro-magnet 28 serves to hold the detent in the appropriate recess in 27 when the snap-switch 24 is closed-as illustrated-one side of such magnet being connected to negative source by wire37 and the other sideto positive source by wire 25, snapswitch 24 and wire 19. This switch 27 and accessories is for normal operating conditions.

There are three occasional conditions provided for in our apparatus, in connection with resistor 18, the first of which is in the making of a paster or; joining of the web of a new roll to the expiring web of an exhausted roll. As this paster may require a predetermined tension of the straps 2 different from the conditions of normal running, we provide taps 38 from the resistor 18, running to contacts with which cooperates an arm 39 of what we call the paster adjustment switch; this switchmay be given a permanent adjustment after trial. From the arm 39 a wire 40 leads to a snap-switch 41 and thence by wire 19 to the plus terminal. Snap-switch 41 is on the same shaft with snap-switch 24, both switches turning at the same time; as switch 24 releases the arm 23 to decrease the pull on the straps 2, the switch 41 increases the pull to the prearranged degree to give the tension proper for making a paster. It will be noted that the turning of the switch 24 brings a second pair of contacts into play, sendin current through a signal lamp 36 by way 0 wire 19, switch 24, and wires 35 and 37 to the negative wire at 8.

The second of the occasional conditions to be met through the use of the resistor 18 is due to the fact that when the decrease button is actuated to slow down the press it is desirable to increase the tension on the straps 2. We provide for this condition by taking off additional taps 42 from the resistor 18 to contacts with which cooperates an arm 43 connected to the normally open contacts 45 vided for by our invention is that concerned with the emergency stopping of the press for any reason, as by the pushing of the stop button. We provide additional taps from the resistor 18 to contacts 47 with which eooperates an arm 48 which connects by wire 49 with the normally closed contacts 50 of an automatic switch the actuating magnet 51 of which is in thesto circuit of the main press-control throng wires 69". It will be understood that while the press is running the solenoid 51 will be energized and the contacts 50 disconnected as shown in the drawing. 'With the opening of the stop circuit magnet 51 becomes de-energized and the contacts 50 are closed, thus short-circuiting the predetermined amount of resistance 18 and giving the extreme tension on the straps 2 required for the emergency stop of the roll 1.

The switch 23 bein preferably where it may be manipulated y the press-man, the swltches 24 and 41 are likely to be remote, as, for example, near the roll-stands where the pasters are to be made. The signal light 36 may be placed near the switch 23 so as to indicate to the o erator when a pastor is to be made. Switc es 12, 24, 41 and 20 may conveniently be mounted to ether as a sepa-. rate piece of apparatus for %he reel room.

In connection with the occasional use of the slow-down magnet 46 it is to be noted that we prefer to use a dash pot 46 connected to the movable member of that switch in order that when the slow-down button is depressed spasmodically the contacts 45 on the relay will remain closed so as to avoid an alternate tightening and loosening of the tension of the straps 2. Under conditions where the slow-down button is depressed rapidly and intermittently, the tension straps 2 would impart an erratic action to the web which in turn would be apt to cause olfsetting and smutting the printed page.

Having thus described our invention and its mode of adjustment and operation, what we claim isas follows:

1. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, such straps being secured at one end and passing over a rotatable drum at the other end, a solenoid-motor for rotating the drum to apply tension to the friction straps, and means for regulating the current-flow throu h the solenoid.

2. web-tension regulator for printing presses 01' the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction straps, means for establishing a standard of solenoid pull suitable for an entire roll and means for modifyin such standard to accommodate a fractiona roll.

3. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing a ainst the web-surface to be controlled, a so enoid motor for applying tension to the friction straps, a variableresistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for electrically "locking the adjustable resistor arm in any predetermined position, such arm having a normal tendency toward the inclusion of the entire resistor resistance in the solenoid circuit, and means for releasing the arm when a pastor is to be made.

4. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a notion strap ressing a ainst the web-surface to be controlled, 9. so enoid motor for applying tension to the friction straps, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for electrically locking the ad'ustable resistor arm in any predetermine posltion, such arm having a normal tendency toward the inclusion of the entire resistor resistance in the solenoid circuit, and means for releasing the arm when a pastor is to be made and simultaneously introducing a predetermined current to the solenoid circuit giving a belttension suitable for the production of a paster..

5. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for selecting a part of such resistor suitable for securing a solenoid pull adequate for normal operation of the web-roll, and further means for changing the standard of pull when the press is to be decelerated.

6. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a. solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for selecting. a part of such resistor suitable for securing a solenoid pull adequate for normal operation of the web-roll, and further means for changing the standard of pull when the press is to he suddenly brought to a stop.

7. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction straps, a variable resister in circuit with the solenoid, means for selecting a part of such resistor suitable for securing a solenoid pull adequate for normal operation of the web roll, further means for changing the standard of pull when the Web roll is to be decelerated and still further means for increasing the standard of pull in the event of an emergency stop.

8. A Web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the Web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for electrically locking the adjustable resistor arm in any predetermined position, such arm having a normal tendency toward the inclusion of the increased resistance in the solenoid circuit, and means for releasing the arm when a paster is to be made and simultaneously introducing a predetermined current to the solenoid circuit giving a. belttension suitable for the production of a paster.

9. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for selecting a part of such resistor suitable for securing a solenoid pull adequate for normal op eration of the web-roll. and automatic means controlled by the decrease circuit of the press for changing the standard of pull when the web-roll is to be decelerated.

10. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, a solenoid motor for applying tension to the friction strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the solenoid, means for selecting a part of such resistor suitable for securing a solenoid pull adequate for normal operation of the web-roll, and automatlc means controlled by the stop circuit of the press for increasing the standard of pull when the press is to be suddenly brought to a stop.

11. A web-tension regulator for printing presses or the like comprising a friction strap pressing against the web-surface to be controlled, an electromotive device for applying tension to the friction'strap, a variable resistor in circuit with the electromotive device, means for electrically locking the adjustable resistor arm in any predetermined position, such arm having a normal tendency toward the inclusion of an increased resistance in circuit with the electromotive device, and means for releasing the arm when a paster is to be made and simultaneously introducing a predetermined current to the electromotive device giving a belt-tension suitable for the production of 

